Nike celebrates a long-standing weekend of football and an athlete that has truly transformed the game.

NOVEMBER 21, 2012

In celebration of Thanksgiving weekend, Nike celebrates a long-standing weekend of football and an athlete that has truly transformed the game. The Nike CJ81 Collection Inspired by Megatron speaks to WR Calvin Johnson’s rare combination of physical talent and mental toughness. This menacing combination creates a prototypical specimen that undoubtedly deserves a moniker like Megatron. Much like the fictional character, Johnson relies on his uncanny ability to pull out an arsenal of physical strengths or “weapons” based on anything he encounters on the field.

I don't want to turn this into something it's not, but how is this that much different than what third-party companies do and where are those that are so opposed to third-party companies? I don't see anywhere where this a collaboration between Nike and Hasbro, but they are using a faction symbol that is clearly derived from the Transformers brand, the name Megatron, and they even fully acknowledge what they are doing. Is the faction symbol a direct copy of the Decepticon symbol? No, but is Hercules a direct copy of any existing Devastator design? Again the answer is no. I just find it interesting that when a third-party company puts out a figure we always hear about how they're ripping off Hasbro, but isn't Nike doing the same thing here? Unless of course there is some deal in place between the companies, but if that were the case I would imagine we would see some Hasbro branding on this stuff.

For the record, I think this stuff is awesome and would love to get that hoodie!

The faction symbol is actually fairly clever! I know there are people on here who like to whine and complain. the faction symbol is actually a a football helmet with the facemask and eye shield. I think that it serves it's purpose and actually looks fine if you know about sports and know what you are looking at!

MulkPrime wrote:The faction symbol is actually fairly clever! I know there are people on here who like to whine and complain. the faction symbol is actually a a football helmet with the facemask and eye shield. I think that it serves it's purpose and actually looks fine if you know about sports and know what you are looking at!

I know what I'm looking at: 3rd party (ie Non-Hasbro) non-Transformers items on the front page.
Might as well be some KOs.

I'm sure Nike is smart enough to pay license fees for megatron and what not. They are not some KO company. Let me ask you this... Is this first time that there has been third party news on the front page? Last time I checked megatron TF inspired gear may interest us. Especially someonelike me that went to Georgia Tech. If you don't like it skip over the article!

I am so very glad that Seibertron opted to stop covering the third party market in favor of... this.

And that logo? I understand the premise; to mix the Decepticon icon, a football helmet, and work in Calvin Johnson's number along the way. This does not change the fact that it is neither obvious or inspired.

Guys, like I said before, don't turn this into something it's not. While I'm not seeing any obvious connections to Hasbro the official Transformers Facebook page is linking to the Nike press release. That tells me they're endorsing this or at least fine with it.

Folks, Nike has previously sold licensed Transformers tie-in shoes, mostly linking to the live-action movie series. Plus, they licensed their product image to TakaraTomy for the Sport Label toys. In other words, Nike has an established history as both a licensee of, and a licensor to, the Transformers brand.

I'd say that Hasbro has, at the minimum, given the okay to Nike. No way Nike's lawyers let this go through if they didn't.

As far as I know this collection was only available online at champs or East Bay. I bought mine at champs and they only had the hat and the shoes, at least when I was online in the morning. Not sure about quantity but when I checked later the shoes were sold out.

El Duque wrote:Guys, like I said before, don't turn this into something it's not. While I'm not seeing any obvious connections to Hasbro the official Transformers Facebook page is linking to the Nike press release. That tells me they're endorsing this or at least fine with it.

There is no question that Hasbro approved the incredibly prominent use of their marks on these products - if they had not, Hasbro legal would already by firing off cease and desist letters. That the official Transformers Facebook page is providing coverage of the release of these items serves only as further proof. However, this is neither here nor there.

The bigger issue is that Seibertron, after making a forceful point about dropping news of third party figures on the grounds that they were unauthorized and therefore tangential to 'true' Transformers coverage, is now covering the release of American football apparel - for no other reason than the football player this clothing pays homage to is coincidentally nicknamed 'Megatron'. So transforming robot figures are out, but barely-related sports gear is in? How the hell did things end up so backwards?

The 3rd party figures/toys get coverage anyway, at least indirectly, b/c the online stores who carry them list them in their headlines. Heck, I bet some of the Hasbro employees buy 3rd party items secretly, b/c they know the character/figure will never have a US release and possibly for research.
The very cool Megatron themed Nike CJ 81 collection has been sanctioned by Hasbro/TF, so coverage of this shouldn't be sharply criticized

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